Air Fryer Fish and Chips
Golden, crispy EASY Air Fryer Fish and Chips! This recipe has all the deliciousness of British fish and chips without the mess of deep-frying!
This is the BEST Air Fryer Fish and Chips recipe! They are absolutely amazing! Flaky white fish and potatoes, breaded and seasoned with staples from your pantry, cook together for an entire meal that comes out flaky, fantastic, and full of flavor!
The Best Recipe for Healthier Fish & Chips
If you’re a fan of traditional London-style fish and chips (think Harry Ramsden or the nostalgic Arthur Treacher’s wrapped in newspaper), you know how delicious deep-fried, battered fish and chips are! But this classic fast food is also greasy and loaded with calories.
Instead, try these amazing air-fryer fish and chips with only about one-third the calories of deep fried. (Compare: One deep-fried fish filet with a small serving of fries contains about 840 calories vs. the air-fryer version that yields around 275 calories. A huge difference!)
The best part is our air fryer version, which is easy to make and comes out perfectly crunchy and mouth-watering! Serve with vinegar or tartar sauce, and enjoy every bite!
Other Recipes to Serve with Fish & Fries
- Moist, hot, pop-in-your-mouth Hush Puppies are ideal for any fried fish, right?
- This Red Cabbage Slaw, with its bright color and cold crispiness, makes a fantastic side dish for fish & chips!
Ingredients
Fish: White fish fillets are used in fish and chips. Cod is the best option, but other mild whitefish can work well.
Batter: All-purpose flour dry coats the filets, then an egg helps the breadcrumbs stick for a crispy, crunchy air-fryer batter.
Seasoning: These fish filets are gently seasoned with paprika, garlic, and onion powders, and a little salt & pepper, making them just right!
Fries: Your fries are going right into the air fryer with your fish filets! Russet potatoes are perfect for crispy outside-fluffy inside fries, but a waxy, low-starch potato like Fingerlings or Red Bliss will also work but give you a creamier inside. You’ll also need some starch (corn or potato), salt, and oil for cooking.
How to Make Recipe Title
STEP ONE: Cut the potatoes into strips (french fry shape) and soak them in cold water for 30 minutes to an hour, then pat dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel.
STEP TWO: Transfer the potatoes to a large bowl and toss them with the oil, salt, and cornstarch until they’re evenly coated.
STEP THREE: Place the fries directly into the air fryer basket and cook at 360 degrees F for 5 minutes. Please take out the basket and shake the fries to ensure they aren’t sticking to each other or the bottom, then cook for another 10 minutes, shaking again halfway through.
STEP FOUR: While the fries cook, set up your dredging station. In bowl 1 – mix the flour, paprika, garlic, onion, salt & pepper. In bowl 2 – beat one egg. In bowl 3 – fill with breadcrumbs. Pat each fish filet completely dry with a paper towel and sprinkle with salt and pepper. With each filet, dip both sides into the flour mixture first, then into the beaten egg, and finally, dredge both sides through the bread crumbs.
STEP FIVE: After the fries have cooked for 15 minutes, carefully add a rack to the air fryer basket and lay the fish pieces on top in a single layer. Spray the fish with avocado oil. Cook at 360 degrees F for 10 -12 minutes. Check at 5 minutes to see if the fries need to be stirred. (You must remove the rack with the fish to do this. Be careful! It’s hot.)
STEP SIX: Divide the fish and chips onto dinner plates. Serve warm with lemon wedges, tartar sauce, and/or remoulade for dipping.
Tips for Success
- Depending on the size of your air fryer, you might need to cook in batches if you have an instant-read thermometer. You can check the fish for doneness. It should be 143 degrees F for done and 133 degrees F for glassy. The cooking time depends on the thickness of the fries and the fish. Please check your food a couple of minutes before cooking time is finished.
- This recipe makes the best gluten-free fish and chips by simply substituting the flour for a 1:1 gluten-free version and the breadcrumbs for gluten-free cracker crumbs.
- Never microwave leftover fish. It’s tempting, but don’t. Microwaving dries out the fish and leaves your house smelling OH SO fishy.
What Kind of Fish Works Best for Fish and Chips?
A thick, white fish is ideal – preferably cod or halibut – though other fish like haddock, pollock, or perch can also be good.
This light, tender, “non-fishy” fish is the perfect start for crispy, crunchy fish fillets! Frozen fish works as well as fresh, make sure it’s completely thawed and pat it dry with a paper towel so the batter will stick!
What Can I Do with Leftover Fish & Chips?
Leftovers can be saved in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Then reheat in the air-fryer or oven.
If you want to change up your leftover meal, simply, mash up the remaining fish and fries to a very fine consistency and mix in an egg or two along with some dill weed and lemon juice. Form into patties, dredge through some breadcrumbs, and pan fry or air fry until they reach a light golden brown. Yummy fish cakes or patties for fish sandwiches!
Other Amazing Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Chicken Legs
- Air Fryer Toasted Ravioli
- Crispy Air Fryer Blooming Onion
- Air Fryer Pork Loin
- Air Fryer Mac and Cheese
- Air Fryer Cheddar and Sausage Balls
Air Fryer Fish and Chips
Ingredients
Chips (French Fries)
- 2 large Russet potatoes (see note)
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch or potato starch
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
Fish
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ½ cup plain bread crumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1 pound cod fillets cut into even pieces
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Avocado oil spray
- Tartar sauce for serving
- Remoulade for serving
- Lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
Chips
- Cut the potatoes into strips. You can leave the skin on or peel the potatoes before cutting them. Place the potato strips in a large bowl of cold water. Let sit for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
- Drain the potatoes and pat dry with paper towels. Place the potatoes into a large mixing bowl.
- Add the cornstarch, oil, and salt and toss to evenly coat the potatoes.
- Spread the potatoes out in the basket of your air fryer. Cook at 360 degrees F for 5 minutes. Shake the basket – making sure no fries are stuck together or to the bottom. Cook for another 10 minutes, shaking after 5 minutes.
Fish
- While the fries cook, mix the flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper together in a shallow bowl. To another shallow bowl, add the bread crumbs. In a third shallow bowl, beat the egg. Now the dredging station is ready.
- Pat the fish pieces dry with paper towels. Season both sides of each piece with salt and pepper.
- Dip the fish piece first into the flour, then the egg, and finally the bread crumbs to coat all sides.
- Once the fries have cooked for 15 minutes, carefully place a rack over them in the air fryer basket. (This will keep the fish and chip from touching.) Place the fish pieces on the rack in a single layer and spray with avocado oil.
- Cook at 360 degrees F for 10-12 minutes. Check halfway through and stir the fries if needed. (You will need to remove the rack to do this. Be careful, it's hot!)
- Plate the fish and then chips and serve warm with lemon wedges, tartar sauce, and/or remoulade for dipping.
Notes
- You can choose what potatoes to use depending on your preferences. Starchy potatoes like Russet potatoes will be more fluffy inside after baking. While waxy/low starch potatoes like fingerlings or red bliss potatoes will be more creamy inside. Both are delicious.
- Depending on the size of your air fryer you might need to cook in batches.
- If you have an instant-read thermometer, you can check the fish for doneness. It should be 143 degrees F for done and 133 degrees F for glassy. Cooking time depends on the thickness of the fries and the fish. Please check your food a couple of minutes before cooking time is finished.
